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Gaytard Name Tag: Hoax Or The Real Deal?

A name tag reading simply “Gaytard” has become the subject of some controversy in Yankton, South Dakota.

At a Taco John’s fast food restaurant in the small community, Tyler Brandt, a gay teen and now former employee, says that he was bullied by the store manager.

Brandt claims there were numerous inappropriate and offensive remarks leading up to the proverbial last straw — when his manager handed him the name tag you see in the picture above and forced him to wear it while on the job.

(“Gaytard” is defined by Urban Dictionary as a politically incorrect term used when you think someone is of a LGBT persuasion and of subpar intelligence.)

Questions Of Authenticity

While the placard itself appears to be from Taco John’s, those can easily be taken from a job after termination.

As for the label with the offensive word printed across it, it appears to have been done with a standard label maker. These can be readily acquired by anyone, thus making Brandt’s accusations impossible to prove on this evidence alone.

This reality led KELOLAND.com to reach out to the restaurant manager, who refused to comment. But that isn’t unusual either, since businesses usually don’t comment on personnel matters.

Still, the question remains: why would anyone lie about something like this, and is there any precedent for allegations of such discrimination being a hoax?

Hoax Precedent

While the first question is impossible to answer without being inside the skin of the accuser, the second is yes, precedent does exist for this being a hoax.

In 2013, Dayna Morales, a self-identified gay woman waiting tables, claimed that a family did not leave her a tip. Instead, they wrote a hateful note disagreeing with her lifestyle.

The only problem: Morales completely fabricated the story.

The diners were able to reproduce their copy of the receipt and the credit card transaction showing that they did leave her a tip, and the family denied writing such a note.

When the truth came out, Morales was released from her position. In Brandt’s case, he no longer works for Taco John’s, by choice, but is considering a lawsuit and has sought counsel from an attorney.

In light of the Morales hoax, and the recent KFC hoax claiming the restaurant asked a little girl who’d sustained injuries from a pit bull attack to leave, we would suggest giving the “Gaytard name tag” case a few more days (or weeks) to shake out before choosing sides.

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Comments

14 Responses to “Gaytard Name Tag: Hoax Or The Real Deal?”

I've seen further evidence to it being true. I am also quite disappointed that, because modern media is constantly flooded with stories like this that do end up being fabrications by people just looking for their moment in the spot light, people who are legitimate victims are subject to scrutiny and attempts to discredit them.

I really hope this isn't another hoax to take advantage of an establishment by playing a discriminated victim. It makes it harder for the people who are actually discriminated against to get justice. According to NewNowNext, the manager has spoken out by saying, “He asked the manager to make that name tag for him. He handed it to him. He didn’t tell him he had to wear it. He put it on himself and created the situation… The manager didn’t force him to do anything.” I guess only time will tell. Either way, the whole thing is terrible.

I know this young man and he didn't want to be in the spotlight. He just told a few close friends privately what had happened. It was outraged friends and customers that brought this to the medias attention. The manager, who bullied this teen, has admitted to the local papers that he made the name tag. He claims it was all a joke. Read here: http://www.yankton.net/community/article_b1f60648-fce0-11e3-8113-001a4bcf887a.html

I believe you that this is a good kid, and he should not have had to deal with that kind of thing. I also think the owners should have had an opportunity to correct this before being thrown into the court of public opinion.

I believe you that this is a good kid, and he should not have had to deal with that kind of thing. I also think the owners should have had an opportunity to correct this before being thrown into the court of public opinion.

If our own Republican members of congress, hate radio disc jockeys like Limbaugh, Hannity, O'Reilly, and FoxNews can make racist, sexist, misogynist, and homophobic statements and threats, there is plenty of evidence this stuff still goes on among conservatives all over America. You would really have to be a right wing hater of gays to think this is a hoax.

so your supposition is that because a select few LGBT people have lied about discrimination, we should question the veracity of ALL LGBT people who bring to light the discrimination they experience?! That is ignorant and offensive.

Of course the manager said that. He made the nametag…that is offensive enough. Do you remember being at your first job? How much were you willing to buck the system? A person in a place of power and authority abused his position.